Countdown 2015 Report Launch

Leading global health experts, policy-makers and parliamentarians are gathering in Cape Town, South Africa from 17-19 April for the Countdown to 2015 conference and launch of the 2008 report, Tracking Progress in Maternal, Newborn and Child Survival. The report documents the latest health coverage trends in countries striving to reduce maternal and child deaths.

Few of the 68 developing countries (22 from West and Central Africa) that account for 97% of maternal and child deaths worldwide are making adequate progress to provide critical health care needed to save the lives of women, infants and children.

According to new findings, few of the 68 developing countries that account for 97% of maternal and child deaths worldwide are making adequate progress to provide critical health care needed to save the lives of women, infants and children. Among these, 22 are of West and Central Africa and also account for the highest prevalence of child undernutrition.

Parliamentarians attending the 118th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Cape Town will join global health experts and policy makers to discuss the role they can play in accelerating action to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 on reducing child and maternal mortality. Over 10 million women, newborns and children under five still die each year from causes which are largely preventable and treatable.

The Countdown to 2015 conference is taking place at the same time as the 118th Assembly of the Inter- Parliamentary Union (www.ipu.org), and in advance of G8 Summit discussions on this topic which will be held in Japan in July 2008.